The partisan legislation forces Minnesotans to pay $140 million in administrative costs, fails to address SNAP cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement after the Senate Agriculture Committee failed to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill, instead choosing to pass a partisan version drafted by Republicans that will not gain enough support to pass the full Senate:
“I said it before and I’ll say it again, patience is a virtue, it’s just not my virtue. I’m disappointed that, once again, Republicans have pursued a partisan path on the Senate Farm Bill; however, we’ll keep working to find a path forward. It’s crucial that we pass a bipartisan Farm Bill that meets the needs of farmers, ranchers and rural America, including year-round E15,” said Sen. Smith.
“We have been clear for months that it is not possible to pass a Farm Bill that fails to delay the deep cuts to SNAP by at least two years. Minnesota counties simply can’t afford a $140 million tax increase to pay for these SNAP cost shifts,” she continued. “Amid shrinking markets, tariffs and skyrocketing costs for diesel and fertilizer, farmers need Congress to negotiate a comprehensive, bipartisan Farm Bill that stands a chance of becoming law.”
Sen. Smith, along with her Democratic colleagues, were clear that they could not support a Farm Bill that did not delay the cost-shift of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by at least two years. Without this delay, counties would be forced to increase property taxes to cover the costs of administering the program, which most Minnesotans could not afford. Senate Republicans went forward with the bill, knowing that without a provision addressing SNAP, the bill will fail to pass the full Senate.
The Senate Agriculture Committee already held a markup of the Farm Bill in August. During the failed August markup, Democrats offered an amendment to delay the SNAP cost shift by two years, but it was blocked by Republicans. Sen. Smith pushed for multiple amendments to the legislation, including amendments that would:
- Allow for year-round sale of E-15
- Expand Tribal self-determination authority for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Establish self-determination authority for Tribal meat processing
- Restore canceled Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants, which is particularly important for recipients who spent money preparing their operation for projects that the federal government had already committed to
- Prohibit prediction markets from offering sports betting and casino-like games that violate state and Tribal regulations
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